Quotes & Sayings About Bhakti

He who has really prayed to the Master, even once, has nothing to fear. By, praying to him constantly one gets ecstatic love (Prema Bhakti) through his grace. — Sarada Devi

A good practice carried to an extreme and worked in accordance with the letter of the law becomes a positive evil. — Swami Vivekananda

Why are we not tasting the bliss of Bhakti? Because we are taking shelter of stone boats. We are sinking and drowning in Maya & still we are further taking shelter of stone boats and this can go on life after life. — Radhanath Swami

A living entity becomes aware of his Spiritual Identity and becomes aware of the Supreme Personality of Godhead only when he comes accross a Sprititual Master. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Substance of Bhakti is Surrender and Humility. — Radhanath Swami

If they love another, let them love! — Frederick Lenz

One is the path of devotion, what in India is called BHAKTI yoga, the path of love and devotion - a Meera, a Chaitanya, dancing and singing, losing themselves completely in the act. When Meera is dancing there is only dance, there is no Meera; the dancer is completely merged into the dance. When Chaitanya is singing and dancing there is no Chaitanya; he has become one with the act. — Rajneesh

The soul's unquenchable eros for the divine, of which Plotinus and Gregory of Nyssa and countless Christian contemplatives speak, Sufism's 'ishq or passionately adherent love for God, Jewish mysticism's devekut, Hinduism's bhakti, Sikhism's pyaar - these are all names for the acute manifestation of a love that, in a more chronic and subtle form, underlies all knowledge, all openness of the mind to the truth of things. This is because, in God, the fullness of being is also a perfect act of infinite consciousness that, wholly possessing the truth of being in itself, forever finds its consummation in boundless delight. The Father knows his own essence perfectly in the mirror of the Logos and rejoices in the Spirit who is the "bond of love" or "bond of glory" in which divine being and divine consciousness are perfectly joined. God's wujud is also his wijdan - his infinite being is infinite consciousness - in the unity of his wajd, the bliss of perfect enjoyment. The — David Bentley Hart

The essence of Hinduism is the same essence of all true religions: Bhakti or pure love for God and genuine compassion for all beings. — Radhanath Swami

When we become connected to the supreme spirit then we automatically becomes situated in our spiritual identity. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah - (Yoga is to check the mind from changing) - which is acceptable to all. That is also the goal of all. The method is chosen according to one's own fitness. The goal for all is the same. Yet different names are given to the goal only to suit the process preliminary to reaching the goal. Bhakti, Yoga, Jnana are all the same. — Ramana Maharshi

Lord Ram gave Hanuman a quizzical look and said, "What are you, a monkey or a man?" Hanuman bowed his head reverently, folded his hands and said, "When I do not know who I am, I serve You and when I do know who I am, You and I are One. — Tulsidas

Spiritual life is absolute reality. Krishna is real but we have lost the ability to realize him. — Bhakti Charu Swami

The real wealth in Krishna Consciousness is Humility. We don't have to become a big devotee rather we have to become a Humble Devotee. — Bhakti Charu Swami

By only becoming aware of Krishna's greatness we can become aware of our minuteness. That's the way to become Humble. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Give and take is business not bhakti — Radhe Maa

Bhakti yoga is a way of transforming your emotion from negativity to utmost pleasantness. — Jaggi Vasudev

Spiritual nature is inconceivable and unlimited. Therefore, the activities of that realm will always remain beyond our mental speculation and intellectual concept. — Bhakti Charu Swami

in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be the road to the salvation of a soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. — Ramachandra Guha

You don't love perfectly without first loving imperfectly. — Frederick Lenz

Bhakti yoga isn't something you join, it's love. It means falling in love. — Krishna Das

We begin by loving and accepting ourselves. — Frederick Lenz

The Path of Love, the path of Bhakti Yoga, is the path of Jesus Christ.
Love is not a technique.
Love knows no technique, so the path of love has no method or technique.
If you bring technique to the path of love, you will destroy love.
The whole existence is love, and the birds need no technique to love, trees need no technique to love the mountains need no technique to love.
Love only needs that you drop the ego, and drop into your heart. It is just like a rose flower opening. You need not open it, it has the capacity to open already. The capacity is intrinsic, and of it's own accord the rose flower will open - and in the same way the heart opens.
The heart needs no technique, the heart needs no training.
Jesus says: "God is love". If you can love, it will happen by itself.
Jesus path is the way of love, of prayer. It is a deep love for the whole existence. — Swami Dhyan Giten

In love we listen. We listen to what others say. We listen to what our own being is telling us about the nature of existence. — Frederick Lenz

It is dangerous for a spiritual master to accept almost any aspirant. Although it is an aspect of mercy, it is dangerous. The danger also depends on the spiritual potency of the particular guru. Without sufficient potency, a few offensive or faithless disciples can lead to the guru's fall. — Bhakti Tirtha Swami

A master bestows the divine experience of cosmic consciousness when his disciple, by meditation, has strengthened his mind to a degree where the vast vistas would not overwhelm him. Mere intellectual willingness or open-mindedness is not enough. Only adequate enlargement of consciousness by yoga practice and devotional bhakti can prepare one to absorb the liberating shock of omnipresence. — Paramahansa Yogananda

Life does not mean mere karma or mere bhakti or mere jnana. — Vinoba Bhave

When all material advancements utilized in spiritual need that is the real advancement of human civilization. — Bhakti Charu Swami

The pure mystic wishes to approach his God only in the all-embracing love. The yogi, too, walks toward one single aspect of God. The bhakti-yogi keeps to the road of love and devotion, the raja and hatha yogi choose the path of self-control or volition, the jnana yogi will follow that of wisdom and cognition. — Franz Bardon

For success in life you need yukti (skill) and shakti (strength), Bhakti (Devotion ) and Mukti (Freedom). — Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Enjoy being with yourself, hanging out with yourself, doing things by yourself. — Frederick Lenz

In all spiritualities there is a contrast between the affective or13 devotional (bhakti) and the intellectual, anoetic type of experience (raja yoga). — Thomas Merton

Ask youself: "Am I loving as deeply as I am capable of loving?" — Frederick Lenz

Devotion (Bhakti) includes Sentimental Devotion (Bhav Bhakti) and Devotion through action (Kruti Bhakti). — Pandurang Shastri Athavale

When you find that you're unhappy, know that it's because you're not loving properly.. — Frederick Lenz

The intellectual approach to Ganesha is called gyan yoga. The emotional approach to Ganesha is called bhakti yoga. And a mechanical, ritualistic, approach to Ganesha is called karma yoga. Different — Devdutt Pattanaik

Let my idle chatter be the muttering of prayer, my every manual movement the execution of ritual gesture, my walking a ceremonial circumambulation, my eating and other acts the rite of sacrifice, my lying down prostration in worship, my every pleasure enjoyed with dedication of myself, let whatever activity is mine be some form of worship of you. — Adi Shankaracarya

Arise! Arise! A tidal wave is coming! Onward! Men and women, down to the Chandala (Pariah) - all are pure in his eyes. Onward! Onward! There is no time to care for name, or fame, or Mukti, or Bhakti! We shall look to these some other time. Now in this life let us infinitely spread his lofty character, his sublime life, his infinite soul. This is the only work - there is nothing else to do. — Swami Vivekananda

It's far better to love impefectly than not to love at all. — Frederick Lenz

In my own spiritual journey, I became a swami on the Hindu path of Bhakti. In the Hindu tradition, a swami is a monk who forgoes regular family life for the purpose of making the whole world his family and channels his full energy into spiritual practice, devotion to God and service to humanity. — Radhanath Swami

People take worship (bhakti) into the relative plane. They consider singing religious songs as worship. Worship [bhakti] can never be without knowledge (gnan). Worship will make one become the one who he worships. — Dada Bhagwan

The ultimate goal of Bhakti is to get Krishna and we get it by taking shelter of the holy name. — Bhakti Charu Swami

I'm a Bhakti, meaning I practice devotional yoga and the heart and love, so I say to people, start with your ego and go down to your heart. — Ram Dass

Spiritual life is not dry, it is also exceuted happily, 'susukham'. The result of that is not just happiness, but bliss, spiritual joy. — Bhakti Charu Swami

To struggle is difficult but to surrender is easy. Surrender is the beginning of devotion. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Have you ever seen a stereogram?
The 'Truth' the Stereogram shows us is there in front of us. Training and work doesn't make us see it.
It's a point of view, a different way of looking at it.
When you see it you try to explain it to someone else and you
realize you can't.
It simple, super simple, yet almost impossible to explain.
There are 'techniques' to see them but some people may spend
years trying without results. Others can do it in seconds.
It doesn't change the fact that the image is there all the time in
front of us.
And it's Beautiful. — T.R. Cordon

Government has only one religion - India first! Government has one holy book - the Constitution. The Government must be immersed in only one Bhakti- Bharat Bhakti! The Government's only strength is Jan Shakti! Government's only ritual is the well being of the 125 crore Indians! The only code of conduct of the Government should be 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas! — Narendra Modi

We can never have Knowledge (Gnan) without worship (bhakti). Such knowledge would be considered shushka-gnan [unproductive knowledge]. It cannot be considered True Knowledge. — Dada Bhagwan

There is nothing to become. The Truth shines here and now. Awareness IS. One does not become it. The Sun shines. One can simply enjoy it or be busy otherwise. That's it. The Sun shines irrespectively.
Awareness. Fire. The Song.
IT IS.
Stop fighting. Stop. — T.R. Cordon

Bhakti and Humility cannot be separated like sweetness cannot be separated from sweet. — Radhanath Swami

Go to God, your beloved, and say: — Frederick Lenz

As you pass through bhakti yoga, as you pass through love, you're elated. You're fulfilled and you're joyous. — Frederick Lenz

Jnana, bhakti, yoga and karma - these are the four paths which lead to spiritual freedom. One must follow the path for which one is best suited. But in this age, special stress should be laid on karma yoga. — Swami Vivekananda

Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. (Mukherjee — Madhav Godbole

Everything is a formation or an aggregate of love. — Frederick Lenz

We are the Sublime Radiance, the Star of India, and the Sun of Glory," said the emperor, who knew a thing or two about flattery himself, "yet we were raised in that shit-hole dump of a town where men fuck women to make babies but fuck boys to make them men- raised watching out for the attacker who worked from behind as well the warrior straight ahead ... Is that how a king should be raised, Bhakti Ram Jain?" the emperor roared, tipping over the basin in his wrath. "Illiterate, ass-guarding, savage- is that what a prince should be? — Salman Rushdie

The Kirtaniyas are in the new wave of younger Kirtan artists bringing
the divine practice of Bhakti from the ancient to the modern world.
With fierce drumming and passionate singing they light up everyone
around them and spread the deep joy of God's names. An evening with
the Kirtaniyas will never be forgotten! — Jai Uttal

In medieval India, the Hindu Vaishnava system of bhakti-yoga (devotional yoga) developed highly sophisticated categories of relation (rasa) to God, including santa (awe and reverence), vatsalya (parental attitude toward God), dasya (servant of God), sakhya (being friends and playmates with God), and madburya (passionate, romantic love). — Siobhan Houston

The path of bhakti, karma and love as expounded in the Gita leaves no room for the despising of man by man. — Mahatma Gandhi

When we will think deeply, then we will realize that enjoyment is short lasting and reality of it is suffering. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Those who are lacking in bhakti (devotion), lacking in faith, are ill qualified to interpret the scriptures. — Mahatma Gandhi

No one can say with finality that God is only 'this' and nothing else. He is formless, and again He has forms. For the bhakta He assumes forms. But He is formless for the jnani, that is, for him who looks on the world as a mere dream. The bhakta feels that he is one entity and the world another. Therefore God, reveals Himself to him as a Person. But the jnani - the Vedantist, for instance - always reasons, applying the process of 'Not this, not this'. Through this discrimination he realizes, by his inner perception, that the ego and the universe are both illusory, like a dream. Then the jnani realizes Brahman in his own consciousness. He cannot describe what Brahman is. — Ramakrishna

The tender plant of spirituality will die if exposed too early to the action of a constant change of ideas and ideals. Many people, in the name of what may be called religious liberalism, may be seen feeding their idle curiosity with a continuous succession of different ideals. With them, hearing new things grows into a kind of disease, a sort of religious drink-mania. They want to hear new things just by way of getting a temporary nervous excitement, and when one such exciting influence has had its effect on them, they are ready for another. Religion is with these people a sort of intellectual opium-eating, and there it ends. — Swami Vivekananda

Humility and level-headedness are traits, which have accrued upon me over the years, during the rites of my passage through time. They were thrust down my throat by the hands of Destiny and the Almighty, both of who are far greater, far grander, and far more mysterious and mystic, than all that we ordinary mortals can ever humanly conceive or comprehend.
- Bhakti Vedanta Anandamurthy Thiruvadiar. ( A Character in the book) — Biju Vasudevan

Bhakti cannot be attained, it is a gift. — Radhanath Swami

I teach Zen, tantric mysticism, jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, Tibetan mysticism, occultism and psychic development. I also teach poetry and literature, film and many other different things. — Frederick Lenz

We don't have to become big scholars, we don't have to become big supermen. We simply have to become a humble servant of Lord Krishna. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Bhakti is the one essential thing.
To be sure, God exists in all beings.
Who, then is a devotee? He whose mind dwells on God.
But this is not possible as long as one has egotism and vanity.
The water of God's grace cannot collect
on the high mound of egotism. It runs down. — Ramakrishna

What is important is not the specific manner in which God is worshiped but the degree to which the devotee is filled with love. (48-49) — Prem Prakash

Who cares for your bhakti and mukti? Who cares what your scriptures say? I will go into a thousand hells cheerfully if I can rouse my countrymen, immersed in tamas, to stand on their own feet and be men inspired with the spirit of karma-yoga. I am a follower only of he or she who serves and helps others without caring for his own bhakti and mukti! — Swami Vivekananda

Holy name alone is sufficient to take you back home back to godhead. However to cultivate the mood of surrender You need a Guru. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Higher position means greater service and an apportunity to purely represent Srila Prabhupada. Hence our management must be based on humility and tolerance. — Bhakti Charu Swami

Bhakti is a Social Force — Pandurang Shastri Athavale

One way for attaining Bhakti is by repeating the name of God a number of times. Mantras have effect: the mere repetition of words ... To obtain Bhakti, seek the company of holy men who have Bhakti, and read books like the Gita and the Imitation of Christ; always think of the attributes of God. — Swami Vivekananda

We cannot say that you are spiritually advanced if you are unkind to those around you. — Frederick Lenz

Only love for the Supreme Lord is true Bhakti. Love for any other being, however great, is not Bhakti. The "Supreme Lord" here means Ishvara, the concept of which transcends what you in the West mean by the personal God. "He from whom this universe proceeds, in whom it rests, and to whom it returns, He is Ishvara, the Eternal, the Pure, the All-Merciful, the Almighty, the Ever-Free, the All-Knowing, the Teacher of all teachers, the Lord who of His own nature is inexpressible Love." — Swami Vivekananda

Bhakti is expressed through our service attitude. — Radhanath Swami

What can you give God but bhakti bhava? He owns it all anyway. — Radhe Maa

Humility does not mean to think yourself less, but to less think of yourself. — Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Actually everyting is right, even the errors. — Frederick Lenz

When you come before spiritual master, be prepared to get chastised. Spiritual Master's business is to do that. Shisya means who is ready is accept 'sashan' or ready dor getting chastisement. — Bhakti Charu Swami

If you want spiritual life you have to pay the price. The price is the four regulative principles. — Bhakti Charu Swami

The path that is followed by most persons in the beginning of their spitirual search is the path of love, bhakti yoga. — Frederick Lenz

Love comes from ourselves, not from someone else. — Frederick Lenz

Evil company is always to be shunned; because it leads to lust and anger, illusion, forgetfulness of the goal, destruction of the will (lack of perseverance), and destruction of everything. (Narada Bhakti Sutra) — Swami Vivekananda

As long as our consciousness is materialistic, there is no room for joy. However on the spiritual platform three things automatically happen: eternity, knowledge and bliss. — Bhakti Charu Swami